Basements

Solar heating dehumidifies and ventilates the basement

Homeowners who purchase a SolarVenti solar air collector to his basement, does it usually because the indoor climate of the basement is experienced more or less humid and musty.

The air is typically too static and both humidity and moisture content in walls and other building structure is too high.

When the SolarVenti solar air collector is mounted, the basement’s indoor air quality will significantly be improved within a few months and the homeowner will begin to experience the basement air as much fresher and less humid to breathe.

For all year round and every time the sun shines the least bit, the solar air collector will blow free, warm and dry air into the basement. And press tucked away, moist air out through the basement vents.

After a full season with a solar air collector in the right size, both indoor air and the moisture level in the basement’s solid materials – walls, other building structure furniture etc. – have fallen significantly.

A dry and fresh basement with SolarVenti

SolarVenti solar air collector using solar energy to dehumidify the basement. Via a combination of heating (blowing hot air) and ventilation (extraction of moist air) pulls the collector moisture out of the masonry and other materials and carries the moist air out of the basement. A Ventilation Kit together with the sun collector is highly recommended.

Dehumidification of the basement

Fresh air is sucked in through the solar air perforated backplate. The air circulates in the collector, and is heated by the sun.

When the sun shines on the panel, the supply and exhaust system start working.

SolarVenti blows about 100-200 m³ fresh and dry air into the basement of an hour. The preheated air injected is about 15-40° C warmer than the outside temperature.

The exhaust fan removes the damp and stale air by sucking it out of the basement – in this way you avoid the clammy air flowing up into the rest of the house.

Example of the drying process

Phase I: Ventilation / Air exchange

When a basement is to be dehumidified with a solar air collector a high air exchange is extremely necessary.

The moisture that often hangs in the air causing the familiar musty basement odor, must be replaced with nice, fresh air. Solar air collectors from SolarVenti are known for their large air volume and therefore particularly suitable for dehumidification of basements.

Phase II: Heating + Ventilation

After the first hour of operation heating is increasingly important. The high air supply temperatures will now lead to an evaporation from building materials and furniture.

A high air exchange is still required and ensures that the vaporized moisture is carried out of the building. It is extremely important to dimension the size of the exhaust ventilator (Ventilation Kit) to the collectors air supply capacity.

With an undersized exhaust ventilator you run the risk that moisture condenses before getting out of the basement. An air change rate of once per hour is recommended.

Dehumidification continues…

While the collector is quiet at night, the dehumidification process continue. The dry basement air will now absorb the moisture from the walls and furniture. When dehumidifying begins again after sunrise, the ventilating ‘Phase I‘ is initiated again.